For the record , I think Doris Lessing is wrong.

But here is what she said:


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080209175746.yzhlvcyb&show_article=1


People predicted that President Ronald Reagan would get us into a nuclear war in 1980 to 1982 - he didn't.

- Ed C.

Lessings profession is literature, not politology or sociology or anything else that might actually useful to back up such claims, so I'd trust this prediction as far as I can throw my fridge.

While I think that there will certainly be some chuntering with a black president, I'd consider the chances of a culmination into actual assassination as quite unlikely.

Not the first time I've seen this prediction, and I think it's horseshit.  The notion that many people want to promote is that, for all of its superficial appearances of equality, the US is, at its heart, a virulently racist nation that will stand idly by while its more extremist elements kill its popularly elected President.  Now, you see, the beauty of a prediction like this is, on the off chance you happen to be right, you can pat yourself on the back for being such a clear-headed genius; and if you're wrong, you can smile smugly about how pleasantly surprised you are.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:  I think the people of the US are getting short shrift when it comes to not only tolerance of, but enthusiasm for, a black President.

!i!

Quote from: SkyrockLessings profession is literature, not politology or sociology or anything else that might actually useful to back up such claims, so I'd trust this prediction as far as I can throw my fridge.

.

I have found that, provided you get some help in actually getting it up, and if you don't mind spending a month or three on your back in agony, that the average fridge will actually travel quite far when thrown by the average person...  depending upon technique and determination, of course....


Actually, I think the 'assassination rumormill' is done by Obama supporters to make him look more like JFK and other 'gloriously dead leaders' of days gone by.

Presidential assassins are always lone nutters, not organized groups of haters driven by purpose and creedo.  ANY president could be a target of a nutter.

I think we should only assasinate presidents based upon policy.

Quote from: AosI think we should only assasinate presidents based upon policy.

Have you taken out an insurance policy you haven't told us about??


- Ed C.

presidential assassins are lone nutters, not really reflective of society as a whole. That said, I'm fairly certain that a black president would bring out MORE lone nutters.  A lot of them seem to be obsessed with racism (besides militia-nuttiness and religious-ultra-fundamentalism).

Not to mention another aspect: if its Obama we're talking about, he'd also be a charismatic black president. And aside from the blackness, lone nutters tend to get psycho-stalker obsessions for charismatic individuals in general.

RPGPundit

Quote from: KoltarHave you taken out an insurance policy you haven't told us about??


- Ed C.

Only on you, Ed. Don't start any long novels.

Quote from: RPGPunditpresidential assassins are lone nutters, not really reflective of society as a whole. That said, I'm fairly certain that a black president would bring out MORE lone nutters.

Which is a comment on US society as a whole.  And I think a lot of people nationwide and worldwide are using this speculation as a sidelong attack on our national character.  I'm not saying it isn't entirely undeserved, but it's tarring with an unduly broad brush.  It's also pathetically defeatist, and it's on this point in particular that I reject the entire notion.

Quote...aside from the blackness, lone nutters tend to get psycho-stalker obsessions for charismatic individuals in general.

Now, this much is true, which might go a long way toward accounting for the aura of invulnerability about our current President.

!i!

Quote from: KoltarPeople predicted that President Ronald Reagan would get us into a nuclear war in 1980 to 1982 - he didn't.

A lone wacko tried to assasinate Reagan. I'm sure Obama could bring out the lone nutjobs.

Regards,
David R

Jesus....you mean my asshole rasist brother-in-law isn't alone in believing this?

What next, elephants growing wings? God help us all.

White supremacist/neo-nazis are extremely stupid, and will almost always tip their hand, the FBI can sweep them up pretty easily. A lone wacko with his own reasons/drive are the hardest to stop, but they can also be caught if the Secret Service ramps up presidential protected just in case.

Quote from: KoltarFor the record , I think Doris Lessing is wrong.

But here is what she said:


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080209175746.yzhlvcyb&show_article=1


People predicted that President Ronald Reagan would get us into a nuclear war in 1980 to 1982 - he didn't.

- Ed C.

I doubt Obama will get assassinated.  However, I havdoubt his security will be increased quite a bit if he gets elected.

Since we still have groups of highly agressive racists in this country you can't rule out that an attempt will be made.

KKK is still around, Neo-Nazis are still around and not to mention just the random nutjob.

Fundamentally, just about every US president since Nixon has had assassination attempts against them. Wikipedia has a good list here.

Predicting that a man who has a good shot at becoming the next president of the US might be subject to an assassination attempt if he becomes president is only somewhat less safe than predicting that the sun will come up tomorrow. If Hillary gets the job, someone will probably try to kill her, and if McCain gets in someone will probably try to kill him. It's why there's a Secret Service.